When I visited Shangarh for the first time back in October 2019, I couldn’t find many cafes. There was one café which was located outside the village; else I had to eat at the homestay where I booked a room. Though the food at homestay was superb; I still needed a place where I could sit, read, work, and enjoy some hot coffee while cherishing the raining ambiance in the backdrop or the mountains painted white in snow. It was my second time this year in July end when I again hit the same roads, promising myself an unplanned journey to Shangarh, just like the last time. The road was the same, the people were same, I stayed in the same room where I stayed the last time. However, this time I found myself sitting at Café Stories n More in Shangarh.
The cafe is permanently closed.
It was December last year when I received a mail from the owner of the café. That’s when I got to know that Shangarh has got a nice café. And it had everything. Everything that you could get in Delhi which was a challenge to find in that area. To my mind, the nearest good market is Sainj and there too I failed to notice anything of that sort back in 2019. However, I am not sure if that place has got anything now. Shangarh actually needed a nice café, especially when it comes to working from mountains. I returned to Shangarh after lockdown, my first visit to mountains in Himachal Pradesh.
Read Here – An Unplanned Weekend Trip to Shangarh
Cafe Stories n More is a luxury in the mountains
Shangarh is a kind of isolated village. As mentioned above, the major stop is Aut and then Sainj. From Sainj, you need to take a cab to Shangarh since there aren’t many options of public transport. So, you can imagine the isolation. You will barely hear traffic noises. Small water cascades, birds, crickets in the night, that’s what you will get to hear most of the times. When I stayed in that village, it rained every day. And the surrounding was wrapped in a thin blanket of mist. Giant deodar trees and the mountains looked like a painting.
I noticed the café’s board while I was heading to the homestay though I was planning to visit the café the next day. The homestay I booked is located at a height and it’s actually difficult to navigate during the night, considering lack of any light source. However, now there are several accommodation options available. The best thing is Café Stories n More also provide accommodation (rooms). For me, I had to stay once at the same place where I stayed the last time thus, I opted that option. But I also stayed at there for two days. If you are planning a trip to Shangarh and looking for nice food and accommodation, now you know where to head.
Café Stories n More has a well-balanced menu and you can order anything, from quick bites (fries, chilly potatoes, maggi, pasta, noodles), hot and cold beverages, snacks, to main North Indian cuisine. I being a Haryanvi look for proper meal at least once a day. So, roti and daal makhani was my dinner for two days. I relished their maggi, rajma chawal, hot coffee, lemon water, chilly potato. And the rajma chawal was some of the best I had so far. Moreover, the vibes matter most. And you have some of the chilliest and most soothing vibes as far as your senses go. The rain turned everything so pleasant, sitting there in café, watching the rain drops touching the earth while sipping hot coffee was a therapeutic experience which you won’t get everything. That’s here, in Shangarh.
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There’s a lot to do…
You can sit inside the café, you can sit outside the café. You can sit on the chairs or on the mattresses, as per your convenience. If you want to stream Netflix or want to work, up to you. If you want to play some games or listen to music, you know there is a lot to do. You always have board games handy anytime you feel like defeating your buddy in snake ladder or ludo. When it rains, just grab a cup of hot coffee or hot chocolate, sit and relax. The aroma of hot coffee in rain adds a lot to the ambience. A full-fledged music system to keep your spirit high with soul-soothing songs always ensures that the ‘Ilahi’ in your always keeps you roaming.
The nights at the café are worth enjoying. When the night sprawls its wings on this village, the café comes to life with decorative lights and the smell of scrumptious dinner tempts everyone around. I have heard, not just heard but experienced that the nights in the mountains are the prettiest. And you will surely enjoy this experience here. Moreover, there’s a lot you can do when you are here. You want to relax, you have got mattresses. You want to read. Pick any book from the shelf and start reading. You want to work; do it. You want to sing, grab the guitar and sing. You will always have some company. You want to sit; here’s a wonderful place to find the perfect ‘muse’.
Butter can melt your heart like butter
Butter, the pet dog is one who will spend time with you the most. And soon will grow friendship with you. He sits by the entrance and looks outside like a guard. Lucky if you get a chance to be escorted by Butter. Well, I got. I took the wrong path in the darkness and then Butter came following me. I realized I took the wrong and he escorted me to the homestay. Not everyone is that lucky! Though now, the café has got one more pet, Fly and together both the pets are ‘Butter Fly’. That’s the cutest thing, isn’t it?
Shangarh enjoys untouched beauty and pure elegance of nature. So, when you visit there, make sure that you leave it as it as. Just leave footprints and collect memories.
Check out Cafe Stories n More’s Insta page for more
Contact at 9811803439/7982761911 for booking related queries or any other information. The cafe owner Vrinda handles all homestay booking related queries.
